Information on the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO). It includes the percentage of road fuel supplied in the UK that is made up of renewable fuel and well as information on its sustainability.

Most of the statistics are derived from data held by the RTFO team, which administers the RTFO in the United Kingdom.

Changes to future reporting years

In April 2018, legislation took effect amending the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) to:

• increase the targets for renewable fuels to 9.75% of fuel supplied in 2020 with further incremental increases out to 2032
• set targets for the supply of renewable fuels classified as ‘development fuels’, starting in 2019, to increase the incentives to supply the new types of advanced fuels which are of strategic future importance to the UK, including renewable aviation fuels
• place a limit on the contribution that renewable fuels produced from food crops can make to meeting targets, setting that limit at 4% in 2018, 3% in 2026 and 2% in 2032
• ensure that wastes which would be disposed of are eligible for greater incentives than those which have other productive uses
• change from financial to calendar year reporting, with period 11 being a short obligation period from April to December 2018 to bring about this change

We previously consulted on these changes to the RTFO and have since published the government response to the consultation. These changes will take effect from Obligation Period 11 (April to December 2018) and we will be amending future statistical reports and tables to reflect the important changes to the data. We are currently conducting a user survey on the changes we are proposing to make to the statistical reports and tables, and we welcome any comments. This survey will close on 24 August 2018. You can also contact us by the email below.

Technical information

This section provides technical information, notes and guidance relating to biofuels.

The RTFO requires suppliers of fossil fuels to ensure that a specified percentage of the road fuels they supply in the UK is made up of renewable fuels. As well as obliging fuel suppliers to meet targets for the volumes of biofuels supplied, the RTFO requires companies to submit reports on the carbon and sustainability of the biofuels.

The information contained in the provisional quarterly reports is based on unverified claims made by suppliers. It should be viewed as indicative rather than definitive. Verified data is published annually and can be found via the links below. Those using these statistics should be aware that while in the majority of cases there is little discrepancy between a company’s provisional and verified data, in some instances the difference has been significant. Further information on provisional data is contained within the reports themselves.

Biofuel statistics: notes and definitions

National statistics

All of the statistics published in this series are Official Statistics. The department’s view is that all statistics which are not designated as National Statistics are robust and have been produced to a suitable standard.

Pre-release access list

The post holders given access to these statistics up to 24 hours prior to release are available in the Biofuels statistics pre-release access list.

See all statistics published by DfT

Contact us

Quarterly sub-regional statistics show the number of installations and total installed capacity by technology type in England, Scotland and Wales at the end the latest quarter that have been confirmed on the Central Feed-in Tariff Register.

Contact

Press enquiries should be directed to the BEIS press office: Tel: 020 7215 1861 / 020 7215 8930.

For general enquiries concerning these tables email fitstatistics@beis.gov.uk

Sub-regional Feed-in Tariffs confirmed on the CFR statistics

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 928KB

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a
version of this document in a more accessible format, please email enquiries@beis.gov.uk.
Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Number of domestic photovoltaic installations per local authority: map

PDF, 204KB, 1 page

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a
version of this document in a more accessible format, please email enquiries@beis.gov.uk.
Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Installed Capacity (kW) of domestic photovoltaic installations by Local Authority

PDF, 217KB, 1 page

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a
version of this document in a more accessible format, please email enquiries@beis.gov.uk.
Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Number of domestic photovoltaic installations per Westminster Parliamentary Constituency

PDF, 224KB, 1 page

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a
version of this document in a more accessible format, please email enquiries@beis.gov.uk.
Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Installed capacity (kW) of domestic photovoltaic installations by Westminster Parliamentary Constituency

PDF, 261KB, 1 page

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a
version of this document in a more accessible format, please email enquiries@beis.gov.uk.
Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

This series includes published reports of analysis and research by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and external organisations aimed at monitoring and improving understanding of changes in farming patterns and practices and how they may impact on the environment. The reports are grouped by topic.

Arable

• recent changes in the area of sugar beet in England (August 2010)
• arable case study – environmental implications (September 2008)
• quantitative approaches to assessment of farm level change (January 2007)

Behaviours

• understanding behaviours in a farming context (November 2008)

Countryside survey

• countryside survey 2007 and links to agriculture (September 2008)

Cross compliance

• evaluation of cross compliance conditions in England (March 2009)

Economic and environmental performance

• the impact of grants on farm economic performance (February 2014)
• cereals farms – economic performance and links with environmental performance (May 2011)
• dairy farms – economic performance and links with environmental performance (February 2013)
• grazing livestock farms – economic performance and links with environmental performance (March 2012)

Environmental monitoring (Indicators)

• local studies of agriculture and environment: the potential for a barometer agricultural area approach (November 2010)
• agri-environment indicators (Updated as new data become available)
• environmental monitoring baseline project (January 2007)

Environmental outcomes

• evaluation of the environmental impacts of 2003 CAP reforms and likely implications of the 2008 health check in England, full paper, summary or note (March 2012)
• impacts of changes in the wider economy on agriculture and the agri-environment (August 2010)
• assessment of implications of recent farm level changes on environmental outcomes – update (February 2008)
• assessment of implications of recent farm level changes on environmental outcomes (January 2007)
• environmental implications of the 2003 CAP reforms in England – synthesis report (January 2007)

Grass

• changes in the area of grassland in England, full paper or summary (May 2010)

Historical data

• historic June data project – stage 2, full paper or summary (May 2009)
• historic June data project – stage 1, excel spreadsheet of questions (November 2007)

Intentions, attitudes

• public attitudes to agriculture, the farmed landscape and natural environment (October 2007)
• baseline projections for agriculture (October 2007)
• analysis of ‘Farmers Voice 2007’ (August 2007)
• analysis of ‘Farmers Voice 2006’ (October 2006)
• analysis of ‘Farmers Voice 2005’ (March 2006)

Livestock

• analysis of recent data for dairy cows in England and implications for the environment 2009 (June 2009)
• analysis of recent data for dairy cows in England and implications for the environment 2006 (June 2006)
• analysis of recent data for suckler cows in England and implications for the environment 2006 (April 2006)

Local agricultural data

• improved local agricultural data (July 2006)

Single Payment Scheme

• uptake of the Single Payment Scheme by farmers 2009, full paper or summary (May 2010)
• analysis of Single Payment Scheme payments in England (June 2007)
• updated projections of the distribution of the Single Payment Scheme payments in 2012 (February 2007)
• uptake of the Single Payment Scheme by farmers 2006 (February 2007)

Soils

• statistics notice: UK and England soil nutrient balances 2017 (September 2018)
• statistics notice: UK and England soil nutrient balances 2016 (July 2017)
• statistics notice: UK and England soil nutrient balances 2015 (July 2016)
• statistics notice: UK and England soil nutrient balances 2014 (July 2015)
• statistics notice: UK and England soil nutrient balances 2013 (July 2014)
• statistics notice: UK and England soil nutrient balances 2012 (July 2013)
• statistics notice: UK soil nutrient balances, 2011 (July 2012)
• statistics notice: England soil nutrient balances 2011 (July 2012)
• strategic evidence funded project: UK agriculture nutrient balances methodology review (April 2011)
• soil nutrient balances 2010 update: developing official statistics at the UK and England level (April 2011)
• statistics notice: UK soil nutrient balances, 2009 (April 2011)
• statistics notice: England soil nutrient balances, 2009 (April 2011)
• UK TAPAS action project report (June 2009)

Specialisation, diversity

• specialisation in agriculture (July 2008)

Structural change

• farm business survey: reasons for leaving and potential structural changes (September 2011)

Uncropped land, set-aside

• campaign for the farmed environment: summary of evidence (February 2013)
• campaign for the farmed environment: entry level stewardship option uptake (February 2013)
• campaign for the farmed environment: field verification of campaign uptake and delivery of environmental benefits: 2010 report, 2011 report, 2012 report (February 2013)
• campaign for the farmed environment: evaluation of partnership, local and wider impacts (February 2013)
• farmer attitudes and evaluation of outcomes to on-farm environmental management (February 2013)
• further analysis of land managed under the campaign for the farmed environment 2010/11 (November 2011)
• further assessing the botanical interest of set-aside and uncropped land (May 2009)
• further monitoring of uncropped land (February 2009)
• impact of zero per cent set-aside on birds (January 2009)
• quantifying the water quality impacts of zero percent set-aside (January 2009)
• botanical survey (August 2008)
• telephone survey of farm business survey participants (January 2008)
• further development of published project on set-aside (June 2007)
• environmental impacts of change in set-aside and fallow in June Survey 2005 (February 2006)

Uplands

• uplands farm survey 2012, full report and detailed results (July 2012)
• uptake of uplands entry level stewardship and the uplands transitional payment: 1 year report (December 2011)
• uptake of uplands entry level stewardship and the uplands transitional payment: 6 month report (June 2011)
• public attitudes and preferences for upland landscapes (March 2011)
• economic and environmental impacts of changes in support measures for the English uplands – an in-depth forward look from the farmer’s perspective (October 2010)
• farming in the English uplands, full paper or summary (May 2010)
• farm practices survey of upland farmers 2009 – detailed report (October 2009)
• farm practices survey of upland farmers 2009 (June 2009)
• quantitative approaches to assessment of farm level change (January 2007)

Related series

• agri-environment indicators

The Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred upon him by regulation 33(1) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010, gives the direction.

Defra’s economists, statisticians and social and operational researchers work as an integral part of the policy process to answer some of the key questions facing our society: How should we prepare for climate change? How can we safeguard environmental resources for future generations whilst still meeting the needs of today? How can we adequately value the goods and services provided by the natural environment in decision making?

The Defra Evidence and Analysis Series brings the department’s research and evidence base to a wider audience, creating the basis for discussion with the academic, business and policy-making community.

Older Evidence and Analysis Series information can be found on the National Archives website.